# General **URL:** https://forum.makanimason.com/c/general/4.md [Latest](https://forum.makanimason.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.makanimason.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.makanimason.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the General category](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/about-the-general-category/3)
**Author:** [@system](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/about-the-general-category/3 "2023-05-06T01:08:09Z")
Introduce yourself, share your tale of woe, ask a question, find a Protection Partner, get support. --- ## [Were our emails hacked?](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/were-our-emails-hacked/303)
**Author:** [@Donner](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/Donner)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/were-our-emails-hacked/303 "2026-06-25T17:06:46Z")
Hi, The other day my hubs got an email from his company server stating that an auto payment to me had been blocked. It did have my email address as the recipient but I didn’t get, nor was I expecting to get anything fro… --- ## [Strange privacy request from Barnes and Noble](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/strange-privacy-request-from-barnes-and-noble/288)
**Author:** [@Marneen](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/Marneen)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/strange-privacy-request-from-barnes-and-noble/288 "2026-02-16T19:23:58Z")
I was on the Barnes and Noble website yesterday when it randomly stopped working. When I tried to click on my account, it took me to a “page not found” window. I tried closing the tab and reopening the website and tried … --- ## [Strange BookBub errors](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/strange-bookbub-errors/290)
**Author:** [@Marneen](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/Marneen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/strange-bookbub-errors/290 "2026-02-10T22:23:50Z")
On another note, I get daily emails from BookBub which sends me notifications of discounted ebooks. The email includes a link for each book that takes me to the Barnes and Noble (or Amazon, etc) to purchase the book. T… --- ## [Free trial of Google search alternative](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/free-trial-of-google-search-alternative/282)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/free-trial-of-google-search-alternative/282 "2025-12-16T21:14:39Z")
I’ve been using a non-google search engine - Kagi - for about 2 years now. I’m still quite happy with it. It does cost money though. For Thanksgiving, they are letting me pass along 3 free months of it to three peopl… --- ## [Virus protection for a windows computer](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/virus-protection-for-a-windows-computer/276)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/virus-protection-for-a-windows-computer/276 "2025-11-08T02:26:44Z")
One of the questions people ask me the most, and in fact a friend just asked me a couple of days ago is about this topic. What virus protection software or service do I recommend? I decided it was time to make a forum … --- ## [Browser options?](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/browser-options/269)
**Author:** [@Marneen](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/Marneen)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/browser-options/269 "2025-10-09T21:55:23Z")
I’m looking for another browser option for Windows besides Brave. What do you recommend? --- ## [Link Lantern support](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/link-lantern-support/258)
**Author:** [@kem](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/kem)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2025, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/link-lantern-support/258 "2025-07-24T08:39:16Z")
Ask me anything about the link lantern here. Happy to help with any issues you have. Cheers, Kem --- ## [My alludesgroup.com adware fail](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/my-alludesgroup-com-adware-fail/118)
**Author:** [@kem](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/kem)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/my-alludesgroup-com-adware-fail/118 "2024-05-31T20:07:03Z")
So a couple of days ago, while I was helping my wife set up her laptop, I accidentally installed some adware on her computer. I wondered about posting this, because it’s a little embarrassing :). It’s the first time in… --- ## [Venmo or Paypal?](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/venmo-or-paypal/227)
**Author:** [@Marneen](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/Marneen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/venmo-or-paypal/227 "2025-06-07T19:30:36Z")
What are the security risks when using Venmo or Paypal for business transactions and is one of them better than the other? I am looking at using an app to sell products for my business, and they only allow me to offer V… --- ## [Use one.one.one.one for website filtering / blocking malware](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/use-one-one-one-one-for-website-filtering-blocking-malware/199)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/use-one-one-one-one-for-website-filtering-blocking-malware/199 "2025-04-04T23:27:40Z")
UPDATE 4 Apr 2025: We’ve had some issues with this app, so for now we are withdrawing our recommendation. At some point, we may do further investigation and contact customer support. I just installed the one.one.one.o… --- ## [How to lock your phone number for major US cell phone carriers](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-lock-your-phone-number-for-major-us-cell-phone-carriers/219)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-lock-your-phone-number-for-major-us-cell-phone-carriers/219 "2025-02-07T01:31:42Z")
AT&T Install the myAT&T app on your phone, then enable the Wireless Account Lock. Verizon Install the My Verizon app on your phone, or visit the Verizon website. Enable Number Lock and SIM Protection. T-Mobile Inst… --- ## [How to use Microsoft's own antivirus and firewall](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-use-microsofts-own-antivirus-and-firewall/145)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-use-microsofts-own-antivirus-and-firewall/145 "2025-02-06T04:15:56Z")
I looked for good instructions that already existed for how to do this, but all the ones I found had too much noise. Microsoft’s own pages were pitching you to upgrade from their free products to their paid ones. Pleas… --- ## [My bank added authenticator app support, huzzah!](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/my-bank-added-authenticator-app-support-huzzah/218)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/my-bank-added-authenticator-app-support-huzzah/218 "2025-02-05T19:14:02Z")
I just wanted to share a bit of good news: America First Credit Union finally added support for an authenticator app instead of just email or text message. If your bank doesn’t have it yet, you could make a request, and… --- ## [How to opt-out of PayPal selling your data](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-opt-out-of-paypal-selling-your-data/203)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-opt-out-of-paypal-selling-your-data/203 "2024-12-06T19:19:02Z")
In Summer of 2025 PayPal will start selling your personal shopping information with merchants. Read their official statement here. Thankfully, you can opt-out. Do this: Log into your PayPal account Go to Settings (m… --- ## [Adding a Friend System to Email](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/adding-a-friend-system-to-email/202)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/adding-a-friend-system-to-email/202 "2024-12-05T01:03:17Z")
Email doesn’t have a built-in “friend” system like Facebook does. But you can have something like it. We talk all about it in podcast episode 42. Using Fastmail, you can add a rule to put any email that doesn’t come i… --- ## [Choosing a WiFi Router](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/choosing-a-wifi-router/184)
**Author:** [@leviman](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/leviman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/choosing-a-wifi-router/184 "2024-10-05T15:28:48Z")
I need to upgrade my home WiFi router. While I have a couple performance things in mind, my question for this group is about what security features I should look for. Also, what tips are there for setting up accounts? … --- ## [How to review the browser extensions you have installed](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-review-the-browser-extensions-you-have-installed/173)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-review-the-browser-extensions-you-have-installed/173 "2024-09-12T01:21:47Z")
Here is a link to review and manage the extensions you have installed. Be sure to disable or uninstall any extensions you don’t recognize, understand, and want. Google Chrome Microsoft Edge Apple Safari Brave Mozil… --- ## [How to keep your device updated](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-keep-your-device-updated/170)
**Author:** [@kem](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/kem)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-keep-your-device-updated/170 "2024-09-05T03:33:34Z")
You can (and should) enable automatic security updates on all your digital devices. You don’t have to update everything to get the security updates, but you should definitely get all security updates. Here are instruct… --- ## [Protection Partner rules brainstorming](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/protection-partner-rules-brainstorming/136)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/protection-partner-rules-brainstorming/136 "2024-06-28T14:16:53Z")
In episode 4 of Super Simple Security Principles, we talk about Protection Partners. Here I want to have a brainstorming discussion about rules to use with our Protection Partners. I’ll start us off. The Spidey Sense … --- ## [How to freeze your credit](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-freeze-your-credit/142)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-freeze-your-credit/142 "2024-06-28T14:14:49Z")
I recommend everyone freeze their credit, starting with the 3 major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. For each one, I link the website where you can do it online, as well as a phone number to call, and street … --- ## [How to report email spam](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-report-email-spam/137)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-report-email-spam/137 "2024-06-13T23:29:42Z")
These are instructions on how to report spam that we discussed in in Super Simple Security Principles episode 19. If we don’t have instructions for your setup, or the instructions aren’t working for you, please reply to… --- ## [How to block image tracking in email](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-block-image-tracking-in-email/131)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/how-to-block-image-tracking-in-email/131 "2024-06-05T21:52:36Z")
These are instructions to configure image tracking blocking that we discussed in in Super Simple Security Principles episode 18. If we don’t have instructions for your setup, or the instructions aren’t working for you, … --- ## [Why does Signal require a phone number?](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/why-does-signal-require-a-phone-number/134)
**Author:** [@makani](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/makani)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/why-does-signal-require-a-phone-number/134 "2024-06-13T14:47:41Z")
Why does Signal, an app that claims to value privacy, require you to have a phone number? I’m going to share the two reasons they’ve talked about and my thoughts on them. I also want to share what they’ve added, as of … --- ## [Transferable email](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/transferable-email/95)
**Author:** [@leviman](https://forum.makanimason.com/u/leviman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2024, 5:51am UTC](https://forum.makanimason.com/t/transferable-email/95 "2024-05-24T05:51:02Z")
Kind of an odd email question… I have a situation where I want to create a new email to use with a group. I’m currently leading this group but expect to hand off ownership in the future. The goal would be to have the …